Tool rack

ABSTRACT

A tool rack takes the form of a shelf member provided with a plurality of structural formations such as holes, slots, and recesses for receiving and holding respective tools. The shelf member is provided along the rear edge with two rearwardly open inwardly extending rectangular slots for receiving respective wall studs, whereby the shelf may be mounted over the studs. The shelf may be additionally or alternatively attached directly to a vertical surface such as an ordinary wall or a perforated wall board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/628,004 filed Nov. 15, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tool rack. More particularly, this invention relates to a rack in the form of a shelf attachable to a vertical support for holding tools of different kinds and sizes.

It is an ever ending goal of tool users to organize and store their tools in an efficient manner. Tool storage units must involve an efficient use of space and must hold tools so that they may be easily or readily inspected, preferably without manipulation. The tools should be easily removed from their respective storage locations and subsequently easily returned to those same storage locations.

Tool holders such as storage racks should be easy to install, inexpensive and sturdy. Moreover, the tool holders or racks should be able to accommodate many different kinds of tools of different shapes and sizes.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool holder in the form of a rack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a tool holder or rack that may be mounted to a variety of vertical supports.

A related object of the present invention is to provide such a tool holder or rack that may be mounted in a number of different locations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a tool holder or rack that is easy to install.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a tool holder or rack that is inexpensive.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a tool holder or rack that is lightweight but sturdy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for storing tools that is adaptable to different storage facilities and different kinds of support structures.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide such a method that is simple to carry out.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and description herein. Although every object of the invention is believed to be attained by at least one embodiment of the invention, there is not necessarily any one embodiment of the invention that achieves all of the objects of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool rack in accordance with the present invention comprises a shelf member formed with a plurality of structural formations for receiving and holding respective tools. The structural formations may take any of a number of different forms including holes, slots, recesses, pegs, hooks, eyelets, cups, etc. The shelf member has a front edge and a rear edge and is provided along the rear edge with at least one slot for receiving a wall stud, whereby the shelf may be mounted over the wall stud.

A tool rack in accordance with the invention is easy to install, regardless of whether the tool rack is being mounted to a perforated wall panel or non-perforated wall and/or over a pair of studs. Where the tool rack is to be installed over at least one stud, a method for storing tools using this tool rack comprises sliding the shelf member over the stud so that the stud is received in and traverses the slot and so that the shelf member substantially surrounds the stud on three sides. Subsequently, the shelf member is coupled to a vertical support with the stud in position in the slot. Then it is simply a matter of disposing tools on the shelf member, so that the tools are held thereon, sitting on the shelf or suspended therefrom. The shelf member may be coupled to the vertical support by any known technique, including, for instance, inserting elongate coupling elements (nails, screws, bolts, pegs, pins, rivets, etc) through apertures on the shelf member and into the vertical support. Pursuant to the present invention, the vertical member may be a wall surface, a perforated wall board, or the stud or any combination of these.

Preferably, the shelf member is provided at spaced locations along the rear edge with at least two rectangular slots for receiving respective studs. The shelf member may be provided with apertures in upwardly turned rims or lips along the slots, the apertures being alignable with the studs. Elongate coupling elements inserted through these apertures and connected to the studs serve to support the shelf member as well as any tools placed on the shelf member.

Preferably, the shelf is additionally provided with coupling apertures located in one or more upturned or upwardly extending flanges along the rear edge of the shelf. These coupling apertures may be used for mounting the tool rack to a wallboard, sheetrock, perforated Masonite or other tool support panels, etc. Where studs are located outside a wall surface, the tool rack may be coupled to both the flat wall surface and the studs.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the shelf member comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from one another. The upper panel and the lower panel are preferably but not necessarily connected to one another along at least three sides or edges. This structure is lightweight and strong. The upper panel and lower panel may be provided with aligned apertures where the apertures in the lower panel are at least as large as the respective apertures in the upper panel. Alternatively, at least some of the apertures in the lower panel may be smaller than the respective apertures in the upper panel. Relatively narrow portions of tools may be inserted through the apertures, while relatively wide portions of the same tools remain supported on the upper panel or, in some cases, on the lower panel. In some cases, only the upper panel is provided with an aperture, in which case a recess is formed for supporting, for instance, an item such as a can having a uniform transverse dimension (diameter).

A tool holder or rack in accordance with the present invention is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install. It is strong and versatile, but in installation possibilities and the numbers and kinds of tools that may be supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool holder or rack in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tool holder or rack of FIG. 1 mounted to a perforated wall board.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tool holder or rack of FIG. 1 mounted over a pair of wall studs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tool rack comprises a shelf member 10 formed with a plurality of structural formations 12 including circular holes or apertures 14, 16, 18, 20 of different diameters and further including elongate holes or slots 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of different widths and lengths. Circular holes 14, 16, 18, 20 serve to receive and hold respective tools that are generally axially symmetric or include axially symmetric end portions such as screwdrivers 32, hammers 34, pens 36, etc., whereas elongate or oval holes 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are especially suitable for holding tools that are wider in one dimension than an orthogonal dimension, such as scissors 38 and pliers 40.

Shelf member 10 has a front edge 42 and a rear edge 44 and is provided along the rear edge with at least one and preferably two inwardly oriented slots 46 and 48 that are open on rear sides for receiving respective wall studs 50 and 52 (FIG. 3), whereby the shelf may be mounted over the wall studs. Shelf member 10 is formed with upwardly turned rims or lips 54 and 56 along slots 46 and 48, respectively. Apertures 58 and 60 provided in the lips or rims 54 and 56 are alignable with studs 50 and 52 for receiving elongate coupling elements. The elongate coupling elements, i.e., screws, nails, bolts, pins, or pegs, etc. (not shown) are inserted through apertures 58 and 60 into studs 50 and 52, for supporting shelf member 10 (and tools) on the studs.

Shelf member 10 is additionally provided with coupling apertures 62, 64, 66 located in upturned or upwardly extending flanges 68, 70, 72 along rear edge 44. These coupling apertures 62, 64, 66 may be used for mounting shelf member 10 to a perforated tool support panels 74 (FIG. 2) or a vertical wall panel 76 (FIG. 3) in the form of sheetrock or other material. Shelf member is also provided with downwardly turned flanges 78 along rear edge or side 44. Flanges 44 may be also provided with coupling apertures (not shown). The coupling apertures 62, 64, 66 located in flanges 68, 70, 72, and 78 may be provided at various spacings and/or as slots to accommodate wallboard perforations 79 (FIG. 2) of different spacings.

Shelf member 10 is preferably made of metal and includes an upper panel 80 and a lower panel 82 spaced from one another. Upper panel 80 and lower panel 82 are connected to one another along three sides or edges including front edge 42 and two lateral edges 84 and 86. Circular holes or apertures 14, 16, 18, 20 and elongate or oval holes 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are then provided in vertically aligned pairs, one hole in the upper panel 80 and a corresponding aligned hole in the lower panel 82. The holes of each pair may be of identical or different sizes.

To install the tool rack over studs 50 and 52, shelf member 10 is simply slid over the studs so that the studs are received in and traverse the respective slots 46 and 48 and so that the shelf member substantially surrounds each stud on three sides. Subsequently, shelf member 10 is coupled to studs 50 and 52 via apertures 58 and 60 and/or to vertical wall panel 76 via coupling apertures 62, 64, 66 and/or apertures in flanges 78, with the studs 50 and 52 in position in the slots 46 and 48. Then it is simply a matter of disposing tools such as screwdrivers 32, hammers 34, pens 36, scissors 38, pliers 40, and cans 90 on shelf member 10, either sitting on the shelf or suspended therefrom.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example, structural formations 12 may include recesses, pegs, hooks, eyelets, cups, and other structures suitable for holding or suspending tools and related paraphernalia. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof. 

1. A tool rack comprising a shelf member formed with a plurality of structural formations for receiving and holding respective tools, said shelf member having a front edge and a rear edge, said shelf member being provided along said rear edge with at least one slot for receiving a wall stud, whereby said shelf may be mounted over said wall stud.
 2. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is provided along said rear edge with at least two slots for receiving respective studs, said slots being spaced from one another.
 3. The tool rack defined in claim 2 wherein said slots are rectangular.
 4. The tool rack defined in claim 3 wherein said shelf member is provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to the studs.
 5. The tool rack defined in claim 4 wherein said means for enabling attachment includes apertures alignable with the studs, said apertures being traversable by elongate coupling elements taken from the group consisting of nails, screws, and bolts.
 6. The tool rack defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf member is provided with a lip or rim bordering each of said slots, said apertures being formed in the lips or rims.
 7. The tool rack defined in claim 6 wherein said structural formations include holes of various sizes and shapes.
 8. The tool rack defined in claim 7 wherein said structural formations include elongate slots.
 9. The tool rack defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf member comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from one another.
 10. The tool rack defined in claim 9 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel are connected to one another along at least three sides.
 11. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said slot is rectangular.
 12. The tool rack defined in claim 11 wherein said shelf member is provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to the stud.
 13. The tool rack defined in claim 12 wherein said means for enabling attachment includes at least one aperture alignable with the stud, said aperture being traversable by an elongate coupling element taken from the group consisting of a nail, a screw, and a bolt.
 14. The tool rack defined in claim 13 wherein said shelf member is provided with a lip or rim bordering said slot, said aperture being formed in the lip or rim.
 15. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to a vertical support.
 16. The tool rack defined in claim 15 wherein said means for enabling attachment includes a multiplicity of apertures traversable by elongate coupling elements taken from the group consisting essentially of nails, screws, bolts, hooks, dowels, pins, pegs, and rivets.
 17. The tool rack defined in claim 16 wherein said shelf member is provided along said rear end with an upwardly extending flange, said apertures being located in said flange.
 18. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said structural formations include holes of various sizes and shapes.
 19. The tool rack defined in claim 18 wherein said structural formations include elongate slots.
 20. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from one another.
 21. The tool rack defined in claim 20 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel are connected to one another along at least three sides.
 22. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said slot is open at said edge to enabling a sliding of said shelf member over the stud so that the stud passes through said slot.
 23. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is provided with a lip or rim bordering said slot.
 24. A method for storing tools, comprising: providing a tool rack in the form of a shelf member provided with a plurality of holes, said shelf member having a front edge and a rear edge, said shelf member being provided along said rear edge with at least one inwardly extending slot; sliding said shelf member over a wall stud so that said stud is received in and traverses said slot and said shelf member substantially surrounds said stud on three sides; coupling said shelf member to a vertical support; disposing a plurality of tools on said shelf member, so that the tools are held on said shelf member.
 25. The method defined in claim 24 wherein the coupling of said shelf member to a vertical support includes inserting elongate coupling elements through apertures on said shelf member and into said vertical support.
 26. The method defined in claim 24 wherein said vertical member is taken from the group consisting of a wall surface, a perforated wall board, and said stud. 